A RAILWAY pressure group has hit out at plans to cut back First Great Western's train service from Hereford to London.

Gerald Dawe, chairman of Rail for Herefordshire, labelled as 'unacceptable' the train company's plans to halve the Hereford-Oxford-London through service.

Mr Dawe claims the cuts will also have a knock-on economic affect on Hereford and lead to commuters in well-paid London jobs migrating up the line to Malvern.

But First Great Western spokesman, Tim Bowcock, said the aim of the new timetable was to improve punctuality and reliability of the services.

He said the overall level of service would be maintained through improved connections at Oxford or Great Malvern.

And Mr Bowock said the time taken to change would be offset by the introduction of new 125mph trains with increased acceleration, shorter journey times and improved timekeeping.

Mr Dawe said: "We know that it is First Great Western's intention to reduce the through Hereford-Oxford-London service to two peak morning service and two peak evening services, using high speed trains. This proposed reduction in Hereford to London through trains is completely unacceptable to our members."

Mr Dawe added: "There are four through trains in each direction on weekdays. Therefore, what is proposed under the new Franchising arrangement is literally a halving of the Hereford-Oxford-London through service."

But Mr Bowcock said: "The aim of the new timetable from this December is to improve the punctuality and reliability of services. We had originally hoped to run more through services but this was one element of our proposals which the Strategic Rail Authority felt it was unable to afford."